The play's the thing ...

Emily Buchanan, as Gertrude, sobs after the death of her daughter Ophelia during a production of "Hamlet" Saturday at the Putnam County Playhouse. Local high school and middle school students took part in a theater workshop last week, and performed two different versions of the Shakespeare tragedy.

A summer youth theater workshop for local middle and high school students culminated Saturday night with the staging of two versions of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" at the Putnam County Playhouse. A packed house was treated to a shortened, modernized take on the classic play, performed by the middle school students and a musical version performed by the high school students. Both shows were written by Caroline Good, who also directed the high schoolers' production. The middle schools students were under the direction of Keith Bodnarick.

Horatio, left, played by Michael Walters, promises the dying Hamlet, played by Aaron Hunter, that he will tell his story.

Horatio, left, played by Nathan Grzesiek, studies skulls dug from a grave with Hamlet, played by Dylan Bodnarick.

Jessica Watson portrayed Ophelia in the high school production.

Elijah Brattain's Claudius kneels in prayer -- and avoids a slaying at the hands of Hamlet.

Ophelia, as portrayed by Libby Brush, begins her descent into madness.